Rain causes more delays in Shanghai

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Rain delayed the start of play on the third day of the $5 million HSBC Champions on Saturday, causing more headaches for organizers after Friday's washout.

Organizers had hoped to start play at 6:45 a.m. local time (6:45 p.m. EST) and play the whole of the second round and half of the third on Saturday.

But light rain continued to fall on the Sheshan International Golf Club overnight and play will now start at 9:45 am at the earliest.

Swede Henrik Stenson topped the leaderboard on six-under-par after the first round with Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, who are battling it out for the world number two spot, in a group of four players a stroke behind.

The Champions, Asia's joint richest tournament, is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, the PGA Tour of Australasia, South Africa's Sunshine Tour and the China Golf Association.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)